New Guinea impatiens plant named ‘SAKIMP014’

ABSTRACT

A New Guinea  Impatiens  cultivar particularly distinguished by having white, flowers with a very light pink tint, a compact plant habit, and strong root system is disclosed.

Genus and species: Impatiens×hybrida (hort):

Variety denomination: ‘SAKIMP014.’

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of NewGuinea impatiens, botanically known as Impatiens×hybrida (hort), andhereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘SAKIMP014’. ‘SAKIMP014’originated from an interspecific hybridization between the female parent‘NG-01 WD’, an unpatented proprietary white flowered Impatiens plant andthe male parent ‘EL-1A-2’, an unpatented proprietary lilac floweredImpatiens plant, in Misato, Japan.

In February 2002, the female parent line ‘NG-01WD’ and male parent line‘EL-1A-2’ were crossed and a population of F₁ plants was created. The F₁plants were evaluated in Misato, Japan in an open field trial. Thecriteria for plant selection included flower quality, strong root systemand compact plant growth habit. At the completion of the trial, onesingle-plant selection was made based on the above criteria andvegetatively propagated. From May to August 2005, the selection wasevaluated in an open field in Misato, Japan. Shoot-tip cuttings of thevariety were then shipped to Salinas, Calif. where the plants wereregenerated and reevaluated for stability of traits. The selectionsubsequently was named ‘SAKIMP014’ and found to have its uniquecharacteristics reproduce true to type in successive generations ofasexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Salinas, Calif.

-   -   1. White flowers with a very light pink tint;    -   2. Compact plant habit; and    -   3. Strong root system.

DESCRIPTION OF PHOTOGRAPHS

This new impatiens plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographswhich show overall plant habit including blooms, buds, and foliage ofthe plant; the colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained byconventional photographic procedures. The photographs are of plants thatare 5 months from their transplanting date and 6 months from the stickdate.

FIG. 1 shows overall plant habit including blooms, buds and foliage.

FIG. 2 shows a close up of the mature inflorescence.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘SAKIMP014’. The data which define thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inSalinas Calif. The plant history was taken on plants grown for aboutfour months from propagation by terminal cuttings under greenhouseconditions. Color references are primarily to the R.H.S. Colour Chart ofThe Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.) 4^(th) edition(2001). Anatomic labels are from The Cambridge Illustrated Glossary ofBotanical Terms, by M. Hickey and C. King, Cambridge University Press.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Balsaminaceae.        -   Botanical.—Impatiens×hybrida (hort).        -   Common name.—Impatiens.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—‘NG-01WD’, an unpatented proprietary white            flowered Impatiens plant.        -   Male parent.—‘EL-1A-2’, an unpatented proprietary lilac            flowered Impatiens plant.-   Growth:    -   -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—The terminal 1.0 to 1.5            inches of an actively growing stem was excised. The            vegetative cuttings were propagated in five to six weeks.            The base of the cuttings were dipped for 1 to 2 seconds in a            1:9 solution of Dip 'N Grow (1 solution: 9 water) root            inducing solution immediately prior to sticking into the            cell trays. Cuttings were stuck into plastic cell trays            having 98 cells, and containing a moistened peat moss-based            growing medium. The cuttings were misted with water from            overhead for 10 seconds every 30 minutes until sufficient            roots were formed.        -   Environmental conditions for plant growth.—Rooted cuttings            were transplanted and grown in 6-inch plastic pots in a            glass greenhouse located in Salinas, Calif. Pots contained a            peat moss-based growing medium. Soluble fertilizer            containing 20% nitrogen, 10% phosphorus and 20% potassium            was applied once a day or every other day by overhead            irrigation. Plants were fertilized every 2-3 days, 2 times            in consecutive applications and then given one clear water            application. Pots were top-dressed with a dry, slow release            fertilizer containing 14% nitrogen, 14% phosphorus and 14%            potassium. The typical average air temperature was 24° C.        -   Time to bloom from propagation.—6 to 8 weeks.-   Plant Description:    -   -   Habit.—Compact.        -   Life cycle.—Tender perennial.        -   Height.—10.0 cm to 12.0 cm from soil line to top of foliage.        -   Spread.—36.0 cm to 38.0 cm.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—4 weeks.        -   Flowering requirements.—Will flower so long as temperature            is above 5° C.        -   Temperature tolerance.—Plants have been observed to            continuously flower at a temperature range of 5° C. to 36°            C.; plants can withstand high heat and humidity.-   Branches:    -   -   Number.—16 total with 4 main branches.        -   Length.—1.0 cm to 1.5 cm from soil line to first node; 10.0            cm to 12.0 cm total.        -   Diameter (main branch).—0.6 cm to 0.8 cm.        -   Color.—RHS 185A (Greyed-Purple).-   Stems:    -   -   Length.—2.0 cm from first to second node; 6.0 cm to 8.0 cm            total.        -   Diameter.—0.5 cm.        -   Internode length.—3.0 cm.        -   Color.—RHS 185A (Greyed-Purple) and RHS 143C (Green).        -   Stem description.—Strong; circular cross-section, smooth and            shiny.        -   Pubescence.—Absent.        -   Anthocyanin color.—RHS 185D (Greyed-Purple).-   Leaves:    -   -   Arrangement.—Whorled with up to 5 leaves per node, opposite            if only two leaves at one node.        -   Length.—8.0 cm to 9.0 cm.        -   Width.—3.0 cm.        -   Shape.—Lanceolate, curled.        -   Margin.—Ciliate.        -   Apex.—Acuminate.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Texture.—Dull; waxy.        -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS 139A (Green). Lower surface: RHS            137C (Green).        -   Variegation.—Absent.        -   Fragrance.—Absent.        -   Pubescence.—Absent.        -   Venation.—Pinnate.        -   Venation color.—Upper surface: RHS 138B (Green). Lower            surface: RHS 138C (Green).        -   Petioles.—Length: 0.5 cm. Diameter: 0.2 cm to 0.3 cm. Color:            RHS 138D (Green) with RHS 185D (Greyed-purple). Texture:            Smooth, glabrous.-   Flower buds:    -   -   Shape.—Deltoid, longitudinal cross-section.        -   Length.—1.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—1.0 cm.        -   Color.—RHS N155B (White) on inside with RHS 142A (Green) and            specks of RHS 185C (Greyed-purple) on outside.        -   Texture.—Glabrous.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Blooming habit.—Will flower as long as the temperature is            above 5° C.        -   Inflorescence type.—Single flower with spur.        -   Number of flowers per node.—1 in bloom at one time; about 10            flower buds.        -   Number of flowers per plant.—22 in bloom.        -   Lastingness of individual blooms on the plant.—14 days.        -   Fragrance.—Absent.-   Peduncles:    -   -   Length.—5.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.2 cm.        -   Color.—RHS 138B (Green).        -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.-   Corolla:    -   -   Shape.—Roughly circular with 5 radial petals.        -   Diameter.—5.5 cm.        -   Depth.—0.1 cm to 0.2 cm.-   Petals:    -   -   Shape.—Obcordate.        -   Length.—3.0 cm.        -   Width.—3.0 cm.        -   Apex.—Emarginate (cleaved).        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Pubescence.—Glabrous.        -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS N155B (White). Lower surface: RHS            N155B (White). Eye zone: RHS N155B (White).-   Spur:    -   Shape.—Tubular and curved downward.        -   Color.—RHS N155B (White).        -   Length.—6.0 cm to 7.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.1 cm to 0.2 cm.-   Sepals:    -   -   Shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Number.—Two.        -   Color.—RHS N144D (Yellow-green).        -   Length.—1.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.8 cm.        -   Apex.—Caudate.        -   Base.—Subcordate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture.—Glabrous.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamens.—Form: Fused; split into 4 lobes. Number: Many.            Filament length: 0.3 cm. Filament color: RHS N155B (White).            Anther length: 0.4 cm. Anther color: RHS N155B (White).            Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color: RHS N155A (White).            Pollen description: Powdery.        -   Pistil.—Number: 5. Stigma color RHS 144A (Green). Style            color RHS 144A (Green).        -   Ovary arrangement.—Parietal.        -   Ovary surface color.—RHS 144B (Yellow-green).-   Fruit and seed set: No seed set observed-   Disease and insect resistance: No particular resistance or    susceptibility has been observed

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL CULTIVARS

‘SAKIMP014’ is similar to the female parent ‘NG-01WD’ and the maleparent ‘EL-1A-2’, however, there are differences as listed in the tablebelow:

TABLE 1 Comparison of Characteristics between ‘SAKIMP014’ and parentalcultivars Male Parent Female Parent Characteristic ‘SAKIMP014’ ‘EL-1A-2’‘NG-01WD’ Flower color White with a very Lilac White light pink tintPlant growth habit Compact Branching Branching

‘SAKIMP014’ is similar to the commercial Impatiens variety ‘Misato FG4’(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,613) (known commercially as ‘SunPatiens White’)however, there are differences as listed in the table below:

TABLE 2 Comparison of Characteristics between ‘SAKIMP014’ and ‘MisatoFG3’ Characteristic ‘SAKIMP014’ ‘Misato FG4’ Growth habit CompactUpright, branching Petal color, upper RHS N155B (White) RHS N155A(White) surface Petal color, lower RHS N155B (White) N155A (White) with58B surface (Red-purple) markings around mid-vein Plant Height at 4 10.0cm to 12.0 cm from 20.0 cm to 24.0 cm from months from soil line to topof foliage soil line to top of foliage transplant Plant Spread at 4 36.0cm to 38.0 cm 33.0 cm to 35.0 cm months from transplant

1. A new and distinct cultivar of New Guinea Impatiens plant as shownand described herein.